Africa is moving steadily toward the creation of a Single Digital Market by 2030, a goal strongly advanced by the Smart Africa Alliance and reinforced at the seventh Transform Africa Summit held in Conakry, Guinea. The event, organised in partnership with the Government of Guinea, marked the first time Francophone West Africa hosted the continent’s flagship technology gathering, as reported by Smart Africa.
The summit brought together heads of state, policymakers and private-sector leaders for three days of dialogue on Africa’s digital future. Reports from Business Insider Africa highlight that this year’s edition centred on strengthening cross-border digital cooperation and expanding the continent’s capacity to compete in the global digital economy.
Smart Africa announced several major initiatives aimed at fast-tracking integration efforts. According to WeAreTech Africa, these initiatives include new frameworks for cross-border data exchange, expanded digital skills programmes for young Africans, and strengthened collaboration on e-payments and digital policy harmonisation. Officials said the moves demonstrate collective commitment to removing barriers that currently limit Africa’s digital interoperability.
In its post-summit briefing, Smart Africa noted that the road to a unified digital market will rely heavily on coordinated regulation, deeper regional infrastructure and sustained political will across member states. The organisation stated that hosting the summit in Guinea reflects growing regional participation and signals a broadened commitment to achieving the 2030 target.
